Eid Al-Fitr 1443 H Celebration In Papua Full Of Tolerance Illustrated By The Hadrat Parade In Jayapura

Takbir atmosphere around Eid 1443 H in Arsopura village, Skanto, Keerom, Papua, Sunday 1 May 2022. (Antara/Indrayadi TH)

PAPUA - Humanist and academic from the University of Indonesia (UI) Ngatawie Al Zastrouw assessed that the celebration of Eid 1443 Hijri in Papua was carried out with full tolerance.

According to him, this tolerance was reflected in the Hadrat parade, which is a ceremony to celebrate Eid by the Kaimana people. The parade was enlivened by the beating of drums, tifa and tambourines to accompany the salawat.

"Papuan people not only have abundant natural wealth, but also culture and traditions which if developed can be capital to build prosperity," he said in a written statement, Thursday, May 12.

Residents who took part in the hadrat parade, continued Ngatawie, would dance together while walking around and staying in touch. Apart from Kaimana, the Hadrat Parade tradition is also held in Jayapura.

Interestingly, he said, although this tradition is to celebrate Muslim holidays, it involves many non-Muslims so that it becomes a momentum to build tolerance and moderation.

Seeing the tolerance that has developed in Papua, Ngatawie invites people in the country to learn from the legacy of traditions and values that have been handed down by their ancestors.

"The culture inherited from our ancestors must be a guide and something that is valuable and useful for our lives," he added.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Papuan Students in Jabodetabek, Moytuer Boymasa, said that in general Papua attaches great importance to brotherhood among religious, ethnic and other elements.

"Each tribe, even genealogically, has a kinship relationship and is maintained closely," Moytuer told Antara.

He said, since Christians and Muslims entered the Cenderawasih Earth, the two of them lived side by side. This includes always being in line with the existing culture in the community, complementing each other, strengthening it so that a harmonious social order is born.

The form of religious tolerance in Papua, for example, is the construction of places of worship. Communities help each other in building mosques and churches. Not only that, Papua also has a strong culture of tolerance, one of which is the tradition of burning stones from the Dani Tribe.

"This tradition is a medium to reconcile the two warring parties," he said.